Government regulations kick in to bring responsible driving on roads

The road transport ministry has notified detailed regulations for drivers, which include dozens of dos and don’ts for drivers. The violation of the norms notified under Rules of Road Regulations for vehicle drivers is an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act.Dipak K Dash | TNN | September 18, 2017, 07:57 IST

Most of the Indian drivers hardly know about the right of way (RoW), lane driving and how to give signals which are the primary reason of chaos on roads and high number of accidents claiming over 1.5 lakh lives annually.NEW DELHI: Do you drive at more than 25 kmph or more than the specified speed limit while passing by a school or a hospital or a construction site?

Do you play loud music while driving or watch a video on screen except for navigation?

Do you also not stop at pedestrian crossings or drive on footpath or you use an air horn or a multi-toned horn giving a harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise?

If yes, then be prepared to face traffic cops and pay fine. The road transport ministry has notified detailed regulations for drivers, which include dozens of dos and don’ts for drivers.

Though, the normal penalty is merely Rs 100 as of now, traffic police can impose higher penalty and can even confiscate the licence if they find any such act by a driver could pose danger to others on the road.

The penalties will be more than five-fold once the proposed Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill is passed.

This is for the first time the ministry has notified a comprehensive handbook for drivers about their responsibilities and about lane driving and the right of way.

Keeping in mind growing number of two-wheelers, the regulations allow motorcyclists to filter between three and four-wheeled vehicles only when the speed difference between the motorcyclists and the other vehicles is less than 15 kmph and the maximum speed limit is 40 kmph.

This means two-wheelers should not change lanes on stretches where the speed is higher.

“Now the bigger challenge is how to train transport department officials and traffic police, who will enforce this and how each driver is made aware of his rights and responsibilities. We have suggested government to undertake a campaign across country simplifying the regulations that anyone can understand easily,” said Rohit Baluja of Institute of Road Traffic Education, which played key role in help drafting the regulations.

In fact, most of the Indian drivers hardly know about the right of way (RoW), lane driving and how to give signals which are the primary reason of chaos on roads and high number of accidents claiming over 1.5 lakh lives annually.

The regulations specify how to overtake, what a driver needs to do in case of breakdown or an accident and how to park and where not to park the vehicles. The regulations also mention that no tractor or goods vehicles will carry any passenger except in the cabin.